Device for changing regenerating-cartridges of breathing apparatus



G. STOLLE. DEVICE FOR CHANGHM'G REGENERMWG cAn'mmcEs 0F BREATHINGAPPARATUS.

APPLHIATION FILED MFG/26.1925.

GEORG- STOLLE, GIE KIEL, GERMANY.

DEVICE FOR CHANGING REGENEBATING-CARTRIDGES OF BREATHING APPARATUS.

earners.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 13, 1921),

Application filed May 26, 1915. Serial No. 30,656.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnono SroLLn, engineer, asubject of the German Emperor, and residing at Kiel, in Germany, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for ChangingRegenerating-Cartridges of Breathing Apparatus, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to a device for port able breathing apparatus bywhich the changing or replacing of the regenerating cartridges, whichretain the injurious com ponents of the exhaled air, may be carried outat the spot where the work of saving is executed, without poisonousgases being admitted into the gas passages in which the breathing aircirculates. The means used hitherto for this purpose generally consistedof valves in the connecting parts of the air circulation pipe which wereopened when the cartridge was inserted by projections which registeredwith each other and which closed automatically on the cartridge beingremoved.

These known arrangements require a spe cial member for clamping thecartridge in position, their manufacture is complicated and they requirecareful handling it they are to be replaced quickly and without theexterior air entering the apparatus, because a very small quantity ofdirt or foreign matter is sutlicient to cause leakage at the valve or tocause the valve to stick. Another drawback generally coupled with knownarrangements is that the taking out or the cartridge involves aninterruption of the circulation of air which causes stoppages in thebreathing passages that render breathing ditficult and altogetherimpossible if the stoppage lasts longer than a brief interval.

According to this invention these drawbacks are removed by arranging asimple closing or gas diverting member similar to a slide-valve in aconnecting portion of the air passages. This member forms a clampingdevice for the cartridge and also changes the course of the air ducts insuch a manner that the circulation or" air is not interrupted and theadmission of exterior air or gas is prevented during the replacing of acartridge.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawing. Figures 1 and 2 show the two extreme positions of the closingmember in vertical section; Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

The cartridge a is connected in the usual manner to the air circulationpassages. The used air enters the cartridge at its upper end, and afterleaving it at its lower end casses through the pipe Z) back to thebreathing mask. This pipe is provided with a partition (0), above thecartridge, which causes the breathing gas to enter into a casing whichis adjacent to the pipe and in which the closing member in the shape ofa slide valve reciprocates. The casing also contains a chamber (Zthrough which the breathing gas is conducted when the slide valve is ina certain position, the chamber being provided for this purpose withports 0 and 7".

A port 9 leads from the pipe Z) into the valve casing and a second portit above the partition 0 leads back into the pipe. Two openings 2' and7c cooperate with these ports, these openings being arranged above theslanting wall at in the movable conduit or slide valve Z. This wall totogether with the upper end a of the slide valve forms a chamber 0 thathas an opening p. This opening registers with an opening 9 in the slidevalve casing when the slide valve is in its extreme upper position, theopening 9 forming the mouth of the pipe r that leads the used breathinggas into the cartridge.

Another opening .9 is provided in the slide valve beneath the partitionm, which opening cooperates with the opening c in the casing cl when theslide valve is moved into a certain position.

To the lower part or the slide valve is red a flange t that presses downupon the cartridge by means of an elastic washer a.

The slide valve Z is linked through the flange t to a toggle leverconsisting of the two levers o and w, the latter of which is angularlybent and linked to the casing of the slide valve, so that a downwardmovement of this lever is accompanied by a downward motion of the slidevalve.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the toggle lever arrangement in its two extremepositions. In Fig. 1 the cartridge is shown included in the passagesthrough which the breathing gas circulates; the toggle levers are movedsomewhat beyond their stretched out or full length position, so as tolock the cartridge against displacement. In this position of theapparatus the breathing gases flow in the direction indicated by thearrows. The used gas flows through the pipe 1' and the ports g and 7into the chamber 03 and beneath the partition into the cartridge whenceit flows through the pipe 6, back into the slide valve and through theopenings g, z, k and it back into the breathing mask. If the cartridgeis taken out in order to be replaced by another, the slide valve Z ismoved upward by the shifting of the toggle lever into the positionillustrated in Fig. 2. In this position the passage through which theused breathing gas enters into the cartridge and into the pipe I) isblocked and the gas passes immediately through the chamber 0 of theslide valve into the pipe leading to the mask. The circulation of airthus remains uninterrupted and the penetration of exterior air and gasesis thus prevented during the exchange of the cartridge.

The altering of the breathing gas passages can, of course, also beaccomplished by turning the slide valve; 2'. e., by a motion in additionto the longitudinal motion.' The locking of the device in the positionin which the cartridge is included in the breathing gas passages may beaccomplished by a spring or like means instead of by moving the togglelever to a position beyond that in which it is fully stretched.

I claim 1. In combination with a breathing apparatus, a regeneratingcartridge, fixed conduits communicating with the breathing apparatus andleading to and from said cartridge, and a separate conduit memberadjacent to said cartridge and connecting said fixed conduits in circuitwith said cartridge, said member being movable in the direction of itslongitudinal axis, whereby the course of the breathing air through saidconduits and conduit member may be altered.

' 2. In combination with a breathing apparatus, a regeneratingcartridge, a cartridge holder, a gas inlet leading the exhaled gas tothe said cartridge holder, a gas outlet leading the regenerated gas tothe breathing apparatus, a gas diverting member forming a part of thesaid holder and movable in the direction of its longitudinal axis, a gaspassage in the gas diverting member for leading gas to the said gasinlet when it is inserted in the cartridge holder, a gas passage in thegas diverting member for leading gas immediately into the said gasoutlet when the holder is opened to extract the cartridge and a leverfor moving the diverting member toward the said cartridge.

3. In combination with a breathing apparatus, a regenerating cartridge,a cartridge holder, a gas inlet leading exhaled air to the said holder,a gas outlet leading regenerated air to the breathing apparatus, a gasdiverting member forming a part of the said holder and movable in thedirection of its longitudinal axis, a gas passage in the gas divertingmember for leading gas to the said cartridge when it is inserted in thecartridge holder, a gas passage in the gas diverting member-for leadinggas immediately into the said gas outlet when the holder is opened toextract the cartridge and a toggle lever for moving the diverting membertoward the said cartridge.

l. In combination with a breathing apparatus, a regenerating cartridge,a cartridge holder, a gas inlet leading exhaled air to the said holder,a gas outlet leading regenerated air to the breathing apparatus, a gasdiverting member forming a part of the said holder and movable in thedirection of its longitudinal axis, a gas passage in the gas divertingmember for leading gas to the said cartridge when it is inserted in thecartridge holder, a gas passage in the gas diverting member for leadinggas immediately into the said gas outlet when the holder is opened toextract the cartridge and a toggle lever for moving the diverting membertoward the said cartridge, said toggle lever locking the cartridge inthe holder when it is moved beyond its fully stretched position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORG STOLLE.

' Witnesses:

J ULIUS Borne, HERMANN Sorrt 'r'r.

